Bird Global
| Company type | Public (formerly) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Micromobility |
| Founded | September 2017 |
| Founder | Travis VanderZanden |
| Fate | Acquired by Third Lane Mobility (April 2024) |
| Headquarters | Miami, Florida , United States |
Area served | Over 350 cities worldwide |
Key people | Travis VanderZanden (Founder) |
| Products | Electric scooters for short-term rentals |
| Parent | Third Lane Mobility (since April 2024) |
Bird Global, Inc. is a micromobility firm headquartered in Miami, Florida. Established in September 2017 by Travis VanderZanden, Bird has introduced electric scooters for short-term rentals across more than 350 cities.[1] In April 2024, to prevent bankruptcy, Third Lane Mobility acquired the company.[2]
History
Travis VanderZanden, previously an executive at Lyft and Uber, founded Bird in September 2017. The company's Series A funding round in February 2018 secured $15 million, led by Craft Ventures. This was followed by a $100 million Series B investment from Index Ventures and Valor Equity Partners, and then a $150 million injection from Sequoia Capital in May, propelling Bird to become the fastest startup to achieve a $1 billion "unicorn" valuation. By June 2018, Bird had raised an additional $300 million, valuing the business at $2 billion.
By September 2018, Bird had facilitated 10 million rides. The company launched the Bird Zero scooter in October 2018, featuring enhanced battery longevity, greater visibility, and increased durability. The next month, Bird introduced the Bird Platform, allowing independent operators to manage shared scooter fleets utilizing Bird’s infrastructure.
In January 2019, a Series C extension led by Fidelity brought in another $300 million. On June 12, 2019, Bird expanded its footprint in San Francisco by acquiring rival Scoot Networks for around $25 million through a combination of cash and stock.
November 2019 saw the rollout of the "Helmet Selfie" initiative, encouraging helmet use by rewarding users with ride credits for submitting selfies wearing helmets via the app.
During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Bird enhanced its sanitation measures but later reduced operations and cut approximately 40% of its staff. Services were suspended in several U.S. cities and European markets as part of cost-saving measures.
In September 2023, Bird purchased San Francisco-based competitor Spin from TIER for $19 million. That same month, due to a declining stock price and market capitalization falling to $7 million, Bird was removed from the New York Stock Exchange.
Bird filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December 2023 within the United States, excluding its operations in Canada and Europe. The company aimed to restructure and sell assets to current lenders.
In 2024, under new ownership by Third Lane Mobility, Bird restructured with an emphasis on compliance with regulators and maintaining fleet sizes conducive to sustainable expansion.[2]
Chargers
Electric scooters from Bird are powered overnight by gig economy workers known as Chargers. These individuals receive charging equipment and compensation for collecting scooters to charge them overnight and returning them to designated "nests" each morning. Competition among Chargers can be intense; some employ vans or other transportation means to gather scooters citywide.
Franchisees burdened with debt
The franchise model employed by Bird has resulted in some operators accumulating debts up to $40,000. Since franchisees do not possess ownership of the scooters, they remain financially responsible for repayments even if scooters are lost or stolen.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Bird initially launched operations in Milwaukee without obtaining official authorization, which led to a prohibition on scooters. On July 11, 2019, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers enacted legislation to regulate scooter usage. Subsequently, the Milwaukee Common Council together with Mayor Tom Barrett imposed a ban on Bird scooters, authorized their confiscation, and initiated legal action against the company. By May 2019, Bird reached a settlement with the city, and in August, the Department of Public Works permitted Bird to recommence services within Milwaukee.
San Francisco, California
In September 2019, San Francisco granted operating permits to four companies for e-scooter services, selecting Bird through its subsidiary Scoot. The city’s evaluation process included safety considerations among other criteria when reviewing applicants.
Seattle, Washington
Seattle has prohibited scooter-sharing programs and disallows motorized scooters on sidewalks and bike lanes. In May 2019, Mayor Jenny Durkan revealed intentions to create a pilot program for scooter sharing.
Accidents and deaths
There have been multiple incidents and fatalities linked to Bird electric scooters.
Overstating revenue
In November 2022, Bird acknowledged that it had overstated revenue from its shared scooter operations for more than two years by counting unpaid rides funded by prepaid "wallet" balances as income. The company pledged to promptly amend its financial statements and agreed to undergo a comprehensive review of its disclosure procedures.